But the Chelsea boss has Hazard and referee Andre Marriner to thank for preserving his proud record.

Mourinho was just seconds away from suffering his first-ever Premier League defeat at ­Stamford Bridge in 66 games.

But just as the fortress was ready to crumble, Ramires appeared to take a fall, Marriner pointed to the spot and Hazard netted a last-gasp equaliser.

Hazard had been left out of Chelsea’s Champions League win over Schalke after losing his passport and missing training.

Mourinho had refused to accept Hazard’s subsequent apology, but restored the Belgian to his team and the forward made sure actions spoke louder than words.

The performance of Marriner also played a huge part in Chelsea and Mourinho’s let-off.

Ramires appeared to be shoulder to shoulder with West Brom defender Steven Reid as he went down in the area with 20 seconds of injury-time left.

No wonder the visiting players surrounded the referee when he pointed to the spot and gifted Chelsea their equaliser.

Credit should go to captain Chris Brunt, who, at full-time, stopped his team-mates surrounding Marriner before they left the field.

Brunt perhaps knew that he was also culpable for West Brom not returning to the Midlands with all three points. Minutes before the penalty, he had gone clean through on goal with the chance to score the third or square the ball for sub Victor Anichebe to secure victory.

But Brunt did neither, instead blazing wastefully over.

West Brom had been superb in the second half until the late, late leveller.

Chelsea dominated ­possession in the first period, but it took a mistake from Liam Ridgewell and some more fox in the box poaching by Samuel Eto’o to break the deadlock.

Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall was Eto’o’s first victim before Schalke’s Timo Hildebrand was caught out by the Cameroon international.

West Brom left-back Ridgewell can now add his name to the list of opponents Eto’o has profited from, much to the dismay of Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill.

Myhill made a brilliant save to stop Hazard finding the net on the stroke of half-time. But instead of hacking the ball clear, Ridgewell hesitated and Eto’o applied the finish.

West Brom responded ­brilliantly after the restart and were rewarded on the hour, having already seen Shane Long head against a post. Morgan Amalfitano’s corner was ­powerfully headed at Cech by Gareth McAuley, but Long managed to outjump John Terry to bundle the ball home.

The goal appeared to be West Brom’s cue to retreat into their shells and attempt to hold on for a draw.

But Steve Clarke’s men sensed an upset and attacked the dodgy Chelsea defence with even greater frequency.

Eight minutes later, ­the Chelsea bench were incensed that Stephane Sessegnon was allowed to get away with a ­challenge to rob ­Branislav Ivanovic.

And the ref’s decision proved vital, as Sessegnon swapped passes with Ridgewell and beat Cech from the edge of the box.

Chelsea fought back, with Myhill making a brilliant stop to keep out an Ivanovic volley before Willian headed wastefully over the crossbar.

As fourth official Scott Mathieson showed there would be four minutes of added time to be played, Brunt broke free and fluffed his big moment.